Music is a major part of life. I love it. Not a day goes by that I haven't been singing through out the day and I wish I could say the same about playing the piano. Music has always been a part of life. I grew up in a musical family, starting playing the piano at age 6 and always loved to sing. When I entered high school and joined Mrs. B's music program my love of music grew to a new level. Growing up I had been around a lot of people in her program, my mom accompanied a lot the students and would substitute for Mrs. B. I couldn't wait to be a part of it. We were suppose to move to Utah in my my 8th grade year but that changed and we stayed in Vegas so I was able to be in choir. Choir at Chaparral was not just an easy A. You were in that program because you loved it. It was well established by the time I entered it and it was awesome.
Tonight gave me a chance to reflect on really how much being a part of that program really made me the person I am today and not just musically. Marsha Borovicka, or Mrs. B as we called her, is retiring at 33 years of teaching, 23 of those at Chap. Tonight there was a retirement party for her. It was fun to go there and see some of the great friends I had in HS but I haven't seen in 7 or 8 years. These are the people that I spent all my waking hours with in HS. Choir was basically my social life. During the Christmas season we would have 30 or so performances. I was around all these people all the time. Some of them I have stayed in good contact with but I wish we could have just all kept in touch but most have gone on and gotten married and have kids and families but it is fun to have a reunion once in awhile.
As I sat and listened to the various people that spoke at the party I couldn't help but sit and think about how much Mrs. B and this program really had an effect on my life. I learned a lot of what I know about music because of her. I learned a ton about leadership as well. It is amazing to this day when I go to other choir performances that I still notice people touching their face and not looking at the director, all things Mrs. B taught us not to do. Those things are ingrained in my head. I grew so munch as a person. I have never really sat and thought about how much impact those 4 years had on my life. We moved across town the middle of my sophomore year and there was no way I was going to switch schools and leave her program so I stayed at Chap and drove the 20 minutes to school everyday. At the end of the presentation we sang "Friends"(at the end of every spring concert we sing that song and alumni were always welcome to come sing it) I never can get through that song without crying and tonight was no exception. It was a great night I am thankful to have that time to remember all that choir taught me and how important music is to me. Mrs. B said tonight to make sure that we are singing with our kids because there is a lot of yuck in this world and music can help us get through that. I totally agree music has amazing power in our lives. I hope I will never forgot the wonderful memories I have that program and all that it taught me.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Happy Birthday Caitlyn (a day late)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAITLYN ANNE!!
May 12, 2005
Yesterday was Caitlyn's 3rd Birthday. I can't believe she is already three. Time has gone by so fast. She is getting so big. She definately can be a handful but I love her and think she is so cute and funny.
Two of my nieces have birthdays right around the same time as Caitlyn so we always do a family birthday party and celebrate all 3. This year we tried to have it at the park but the weather didn't want to cooperate so we ended up at my brother Jared's house. We had pizza for dinner and a cake from Freed's bakery. It was a lot of fun. Caitlyn got a lot of princess stuff which she loves. Wade and I gave her a CD player and made her CD of her favorite songs from the princess movies. Anytime she could today she was singing in her room. It was a good day for her yesterday. Below are some pictures from the evening.
Two of my nieces have birthdays right around the same time as Caitlyn so we always do a family birthday party and celebrate all 3. This year we tried to have it at the park but the weather didn't want to cooperate so we ended up at my brother Jared's house. We had pizza for dinner and a cake from Freed's bakery. It was a lot of fun. Caitlyn got a lot of princess stuff which she loves. Wade and I gave her a CD player and made her CD of her favorite songs from the princess movies. Anytime she could today she was singing in her room. It was a good day for her yesterday. Below are some pictures from the evening.
We picked out a princess cake for Caitlyn and since we were celebrating Mackenzie and Caylee's birthday's, who are older, we served it on Hannah Montana plates.
Here are the Birthday girls as we sing Happy Birithday. Mackenzie turned 9 today, Caylee turned 6 on Saturday and Caitlyn 3 yesterday.
Here are the kids enjoying there cupcakes and ice cream.
Caitlyn opening her Belle Barbie Doll.
Here is Caitlyn opening the CD player. Of course we had to get her a pink one.
Here are the kids enjoying there cupcakes and ice cream.Caitlyn opening her Belle Barbie Doll.Here is Caitlyn opening the CD player. Of course we had to get her a pink one.Here are some pictures of Elsa that I had on the camera. She is getting so big as well. She stands up without holding on to anything and has cut her 2 top teeth. She is a so fun and loves her big sister.
Elsa was helping me unload the groceries from Costco one day.
Friday, April 4, 2008
My Bowl! My Bowl!
So this morning at about 3:30 a.m. I was awakened to Caitlyn talking/crying saying "My Bowl My Bowl" I instantly knew that she had thrown up or was throwing up. I ran in with the bowl to catch the end of her up-chucking.
Let me back-up a little. So last Friday Wade came home early, which was a great treat. I had been planning to go shopping but he came home so I wanted to spend time with him. I had been cleaning the house all day so I wanted to get out of the house and do something. We decided to go to the park. The girls played and had a great time. I had a spatula I need to return to a neighborhood friend and we ended up hanging out over there for about an hour. The next morning when I was talking to my friend she said her daughter had thrown up that night and was still not feeling very well. She didn't want to tell me because she knows how much I hate the stomach flu. I was just like oh well it is not like we knew she had it. I didn't have much going on this week so if we get it we will be okay. I have gotten through it before. So every night since then I have the bowl in Caitlyn's room and she knows exactly what it is for. I thought we had escaped getting it and was hopeful we had. I was wrong.
Caitlyn had thrown-up on her bed so I got a sheet and laid her on our floor, next to her bowl, so I could catch the throw-up the next time. We all finally got back to sleep about an hour later and were up at 7. Caitlyn woke up acting totally normal. Actually, even right after she threw up she seemed fine. I gave her few mild things to eat and everything seems to be settling fine. It is now almost 5 p.m. and she hasn't thrown up again and has been acting totally normal. I am crossing my fingers that it stays that way and that the rest of us don't get it. I fully expect her to randomly throw-up sometime again though like tomorrow night or something, she always does that. I had some errands to do today but didn't dare go anywhere in case things got worse. So my day has been spent doing all the throw-up laundry. Way fun! I am sure you are all jealous.
Let me back-up a little. So last Friday Wade came home early, which was a great treat. I had been planning to go shopping but he came home so I wanted to spend time with him. I had been cleaning the house all day so I wanted to get out of the house and do something. We decided to go to the park. The girls played and had a great time. I had a spatula I need to return to a neighborhood friend and we ended up hanging out over there for about an hour. The next morning when I was talking to my friend she said her daughter had thrown up that night and was still not feeling very well. She didn't want to tell me because she knows how much I hate the stomach flu. I was just like oh well it is not like we knew she had it. I didn't have much going on this week so if we get it we will be okay. I have gotten through it before. So every night since then I have the bowl in Caitlyn's room and she knows exactly what it is for. I thought we had escaped getting it and was hopeful we had. I was wrong.
Caitlyn had thrown-up on her bed so I got a sheet and laid her on our floor, next to her bowl, so I could catch the throw-up the next time. We all finally got back to sleep about an hour later and were up at 7. Caitlyn woke up acting totally normal. Actually, even right after she threw up she seemed fine. I gave her few mild things to eat and everything seems to be settling fine. It is now almost 5 p.m. and she hasn't thrown up again and has been acting totally normal. I am crossing my fingers that it stays that way and that the rest of us don't get it. I fully expect her to randomly throw-up sometime again though like tomorrow night or something, she always does that. I had some errands to do today but didn't dare go anywhere in case things got worse. So my day has been spent doing all the throw-up laundry. Way fun! I am sure you are all jealous.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Hello?
So yesterday started out pretty normal. I got up, got ready ,picked up the house, and went out shopping. I came home and picked up the phone to make a phone call but there was no dial tone. I went upstairs to get the phone and the same thing. I grabbed my cell phone to call my friend who lives in the neighborhood and I just got a busy signal. By that point I figured that there must be an outage in the area. I got my cell phone and called Embarq thinking they would comfirm that. The lady was like I haven't heard of any outage in the area but I will put your problem through and somebody will come out by 7 p.m. tomorrow night. I was thinking great that is a long time to be without the phone. Hopefully it is just an outage in the area and it will be fixed earlier than that. Oh yeah I also didn't have any internet either. My cell phone reception was also really bad and that is not normal. I do have to admit to that when I first got home and realized the phone wasn't working and my cell phone was being bad I thought what if somebody is trying to break in my house, cut my phone lines and bought one of those things that makes your cell phone not get reception. I did go upstairs and make sure nobody was hiding. There wasn't anybody in my house. I know I watch too many crime shows but I love them.
It was weird not to be able to call anybody. Elsa was napping so I couldn't go on a walk to confirm with neighbors that it was an outage so I just hung at home. Around 3:30 I went to grocery store and was able to get some cell reception but not much. When I was checking out they told me Debit was working because phones are down and the checker wasn't getting any cell reception either. That made me feel better but I just wanted to know what was going on. On the news they said that a contractor didn't "Call before you dig" and 12,000 people were without phones. Embarq was hoping the problem fixed by 9. Well, at least I finally knew what caused the problem but I still didn't have any phones. It was just kind of a weird feeling all day. I couldn't have instant communication with people. It is amazing how much peace I have knowing that if something happens, help is only a phone call away. I was feeding Elsa some furit puffs and was like if she starting choking or something happened to my kids I could not call 911. I felt trapped in my house. I have never experienced that before and I hope I never do again. We didn't have them back until 6:30 this morning. Even going to bed last night I was nervous not having a phone. Just another experience to make me grateful for all the modern conviences we have and really how much of a blessing and peace of mind they are to us.
It was weird not to be able to call anybody. Elsa was napping so I couldn't go on a walk to confirm with neighbors that it was an outage so I just hung at home. Around 3:30 I went to grocery store and was able to get some cell reception but not much. When I was checking out they told me Debit was working because phones are down and the checker wasn't getting any cell reception either. That made me feel better but I just wanted to know what was going on. On the news they said that a contractor didn't "Call before you dig" and 12,000 people were without phones. Embarq was hoping the problem fixed by 9. Well, at least I finally knew what caused the problem but I still didn't have any phones. It was just kind of a weird feeling all day. I couldn't have instant communication with people. It is amazing how much peace I have knowing that if something happens, help is only a phone call away. I was feeding Elsa some furit puffs and was like if she starting choking or something happened to my kids I could not call 911. I felt trapped in my house. I have never experienced that before and I hope I never do again. We didn't have them back until 6:30 this morning. Even going to bed last night I was nervous not having a phone. Just another experience to make me grateful for all the modern conviences we have and really how much of a blessing and peace of mind they are to us.
Pictures from last Week
This is Caitlyn's favorite outfit. I do laundry on Tuesday and so every Wednesday she picks this outfit out to wear. She also has a love of high heel shoes. These are some that my mom picked up for her from the junk store. She is all girl.
I saw the two girls at the window and had to snap a picture. They will often hang out in the kitchen while I am making dinner. It is such nice weather here that we have our windows open a lot. Caitlyn loves to watch the kids that are playing in the street and Elsa wants to be just like her big sister.
Have I mentioned we have a play room? It is about 4 feet by 2 feet. The girls will play in this corner forever so now I call it a playroom. They even have window in it. They just make me laugh.
Here's the room with them not playing in it.Monday, March 24, 2008
A Day in Our Crazy Life
So today when I woke up the only things on the agenda were to go to the Post office and to Costco. When you have two kids with you though nothing is really ever that easy. (I'm sure those of you with 3 or more kids would love to trade me but don't you remember when you thought 2 kids were hard?)
So by the time we were all up, fed and dressed we left the house about 11. We were in the car and headed to the post office. Once we got there I put Elsa in the stroller while Caitlyn walked. When we got in there I got my package all ready and then got in line. Of course the line was about 10 people long and they weren't efficient and everybody had all these difficult packages they had to send. Caitlyn was pretty good. She wandered but didn't really hurt anything. The lady that was in front of me said you can go ahead of me, I have grand kids and know how impatient they can be. I love nice people like that. (It is amazing to me sometimes how oblivious people are. My favorite is when I am pushing the double stroller and the doors don't automatically open and people will walk by me while I am trying to hold the door open while pushing the stroller through.) I was called up to counter and then about 3 seconds later she was called up so that made me happy that she didn't have to wait forever.
Now we were off to Costco. By this time it was about noon so I decided we would eat and then shop. Caitlyn does not let us leave Costco without getting a Hot Dog. Costco was not full of too many nice people. When I go to Costco by myself I don't really have much of an option than to push my cart up to the food line. Usually I eat before the lunch rush so I don't have to push it through the ropes. Today it was kind of crazy so I got in line behind a man. There was a lady in front of him that was chatting it up with some other lady outside of the rope. She was totally oblivious to what was going on. The man in front of me cut in front of her and I would have too but I had my cart. I thought about ramming her with the cart to get her attention but just said "excuse me" with an attitude. She finally moved. We got our food but the next task is getting Ketchup for the hot dogs and drinks filled. There was crowds of people but I managed to work my way through with the cart. The next task a table. As I am walking down the row there is one open where I can park my cart to. So I pull my cart back out of the way. I have my back to the table and while I am trying to unhook Caitlyn from the cart some guy comes and sits down at the table. I didn't say anything maybe I should have just sat there anyway. I'm sure he would have loved to have lunch with a 2 yr old and and 8 month old. So I walked around trying to find a table. There was not one table open. I really wanted to just start crying. It was just a lot of work today. It hasn't been that stressful in the past. I stood around for about 10 minutes and then finally a table opened. We ate and were off to shop. After that things were pretty smooth. We got home and it was nap time. Elsa fought me a little but finally went down. Caitlyn never did take a nap but she wasn't acting too bad so it was okay. I organized Caitlyn's toys and then went to start dinner.
I had dinner simmering while Elsa was playing on the floor by me. I look down to see what she is doing and she is trying to get some crumb from the floor, I pick up the crumb and notice some red on the floor I thought it was from a cut I had. Then I see Elsa with something and it is a pretty big piece of glass from a jar that I broke about 3 weeks ago. I took it away thinking that she didn't cut herself and then I remember the red on the floor and so I check her hand and sure enough she had a cut on the tip of her index finger. Elsa didn't cry at all. It was bleeding really bad though so I went up to our room to get the band aids. Have you ever tried to put a band-aid on an 8 month old though? She was not cooperating. Because of where the cut was she needed 2 band-aids so it stayed on. I put one set on but she bled through it. I got some gauze out and added that with the next set but it was a pain. I think I went through about 8 bandages until finally it stayed on. She wouldn't leave it alone and so she pulled it off. It was still bleeding so I had to start another round. While I was doing this Caitlyn took off her diaper and said she went pee in the potty. She really didn't, she just likes to sit on her potty. That is the next project in the next few weeks. I'm sure they'll be some good posts about that. Anyway, I finally got a band-aid on and we came downstairs. Remember that dinner that was simmering? Yes, it was burned. It is 6:30 and now I have a screaming 8 month old who had been traumatized from trying to put on a band-aid, Caitlyn running around and no dinner. We go outside to calm Elsa down and try and distract her from the band-aid. Caitlyn put leaves all over the porch and I told her pick them up or she was going to her room. Of course she didn't pick them up so she was in her room. I called Wade and asked him when he was coming home and it was not soon enough.
Elsa pulled off her other set of band-aids but thankfully it wasn't really bleeding anymore. I probably used16 to 18 band-aids. I got Caitlyn our of her room and Elsa calmed down so now I needed to worry about dinner. We ate a frozen pizza.
Tomorrow is a new day. Hopefully there won't be too much craziness.
So by the time we were all up, fed and dressed we left the house about 11. We were in the car and headed to the post office. Once we got there I put Elsa in the stroller while Caitlyn walked. When we got in there I got my package all ready and then got in line. Of course the line was about 10 people long and they weren't efficient and everybody had all these difficult packages they had to send. Caitlyn was pretty good. She wandered but didn't really hurt anything. The lady that was in front of me said you can go ahead of me, I have grand kids and know how impatient they can be. I love nice people like that. (It is amazing to me sometimes how oblivious people are. My favorite is when I am pushing the double stroller and the doors don't automatically open and people will walk by me while I am trying to hold the door open while pushing the stroller through.) I was called up to counter and then about 3 seconds later she was called up so that made me happy that she didn't have to wait forever.
Now we were off to Costco. By this time it was about noon so I decided we would eat and then shop. Caitlyn does not let us leave Costco without getting a Hot Dog. Costco was not full of too many nice people. When I go to Costco by myself I don't really have much of an option than to push my cart up to the food line. Usually I eat before the lunch rush so I don't have to push it through the ropes. Today it was kind of crazy so I got in line behind a man. There was a lady in front of him that was chatting it up with some other lady outside of the rope. She was totally oblivious to what was going on. The man in front of me cut in front of her and I would have too but I had my cart. I thought about ramming her with the cart to get her attention but just said "excuse me" with an attitude. She finally moved. We got our food but the next task is getting Ketchup for the hot dogs and drinks filled. There was crowds of people but I managed to work my way through with the cart. The next task a table. As I am walking down the row there is one open where I can park my cart to. So I pull my cart back out of the way. I have my back to the table and while I am trying to unhook Caitlyn from the cart some guy comes and sits down at the table. I didn't say anything maybe I should have just sat there anyway. I'm sure he would have loved to have lunch with a 2 yr old and and 8 month old. So I walked around trying to find a table. There was not one table open. I really wanted to just start crying. It was just a lot of work today. It hasn't been that stressful in the past. I stood around for about 10 minutes and then finally a table opened. We ate and were off to shop. After that things were pretty smooth. We got home and it was nap time. Elsa fought me a little but finally went down. Caitlyn never did take a nap but she wasn't acting too bad so it was okay. I organized Caitlyn's toys and then went to start dinner.
I had dinner simmering while Elsa was playing on the floor by me. I look down to see what she is doing and she is trying to get some crumb from the floor, I pick up the crumb and notice some red on the floor I thought it was from a cut I had. Then I see Elsa with something and it is a pretty big piece of glass from a jar that I broke about 3 weeks ago. I took it away thinking that she didn't cut herself and then I remember the red on the floor and so I check her hand and sure enough she had a cut on the tip of her index finger. Elsa didn't cry at all. It was bleeding really bad though so I went up to our room to get the band aids. Have you ever tried to put a band-aid on an 8 month old though? She was not cooperating. Because of where the cut was she needed 2 band-aids so it stayed on. I put one set on but she bled through it. I got some gauze out and added that with the next set but it was a pain. I think I went through about 8 bandages until finally it stayed on. She wouldn't leave it alone and so she pulled it off. It was still bleeding so I had to start another round. While I was doing this Caitlyn took off her diaper and said she went pee in the potty. She really didn't, she just likes to sit on her potty. That is the next project in the next few weeks. I'm sure they'll be some good posts about that. Anyway, I finally got a band-aid on and we came downstairs. Remember that dinner that was simmering? Yes, it was burned. It is 6:30 and now I have a screaming 8 month old who had been traumatized from trying to put on a band-aid, Caitlyn running around and no dinner. We go outside to calm Elsa down and try and distract her from the band-aid. Caitlyn put leaves all over the porch and I told her pick them up or she was going to her room. Of course she didn't pick them up so she was in her room. I called Wade and asked him when he was coming home and it was not soon enough.
Elsa pulled off her other set of band-aids but thankfully it wasn't really bleeding anymore. I probably used16 to 18 band-aids. I got Caitlyn our of her room and Elsa calmed down so now I needed to worry about dinner. We ate a frozen pizza.
Tomorrow is a new day. Hopefully there won't be too much craziness.
Tagged A to Z
I'm seen this around on a few different blogs and now I was tagged.
A - Attached or Single: Attached.....to my husband Wade
B - Best Friends: Wade and the Beehive Possee
C - Cake or Pie: Definately Cake
D - Day of choice: I don't know if I really have a day I love. They are all pretty hectic
E - Essential Item: Vaseline and Lotion
F - Favorite Color: Blue
G - Gummy Bears or Worms: Gummy Worms
H - Hometown: Born is Bellingham Washington but Las Vegas is all I really know
I - Indulgence(s): Chips and Chocolate
J - January or July: July because it is somewhat of a break from tax season.
K - Kids: Yes, Caitlyn 2 1/2 and Elsa 8 months
L - Life is incomplete without: Family and Friends
M -Marriage Date: March 22, 2003
N - Number of Siblings: 4 brothers
O - Oranges or Apples: I like them both but they taste even better when somebody peels and cuts them for me
P - Phobias or Fears: Living this life without any of family
Q - Quotes: In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed; not just endured. President Gordon B. Hinckley
R - Reason to Smile: My husband and kids, Tax deadline, and eating out.
S - Season: Spring
T - Tag Three Friends: I tag anybody who wants fill this out
U- Unknown fact about me: I don't like chunky or chrunchy things in my soft food i.e. chunks of fruit in yogurt or pickles and celery in potato salad
V - Very favorite store: Gap
W - Worst habit: Biting my nails
X - X-ray or Ultrasound: Ultrasounds
Y - Your favorite food: Mexican
Z - Zodiac: Aries
A - Attached or Single: Attached.....to my husband Wade
B - Best Friends: Wade and the Beehive Possee
C - Cake or Pie: Definately Cake
D - Day of choice: I don't know if I really have a day I love. They are all pretty hectic
E - Essential Item: Vaseline and Lotion
F - Favorite Color: Blue
G - Gummy Bears or Worms: Gummy Worms
H - Hometown: Born is Bellingham Washington but Las Vegas is all I really know
I - Indulgence(s): Chips and Chocolate
J - January or July: July because it is somewhat of a break from tax season.
K - Kids: Yes, Caitlyn 2 1/2 and Elsa 8 months
L - Life is incomplete without: Family and Friends
M -Marriage Date: March 22, 2003
N - Number of Siblings: 4 brothers
O - Oranges or Apples: I like them both but they taste even better when somebody peels and cuts them for me
P - Phobias or Fears: Living this life without any of family
Q - Quotes: In all of living, have much fun and laughter. Life is to be enjoyed; not just endured. President Gordon B. Hinckley
R - Reason to Smile: My husband and kids, Tax deadline, and eating out.
S - Season: Spring
T - Tag Three Friends: I tag anybody who wants fill this out
U- Unknown fact about me: I don't like chunky or chrunchy things in my soft food i.e. chunks of fruit in yogurt or pickles and celery in potato salad
V - Very favorite store: Gap
W - Worst habit: Biting my nails
X - X-ray or Ultrasound: Ultrasounds
Y - Your favorite food: Mexican
Z - Zodiac: Aries
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